Wideband and Wide-Angle RCS Reduction of MIMO Antennas Using Compensate-Layered Metasurface for Cube Satellite Applications
Qi Zheng, Qi Zhao, Yan Qu, Xue‐Xia Yang, Xiaoyan Pang
Abstract
In this article, a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna array with wideband and wide-angle radar cross section (RCS) reduction based on compensate-layered metasurface is proposed for cube satellite applications. First, a metasurface with compensated mediums, achieving a broadband and stable <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$180^{\circ }\pm 37^{\circ }$ </tex-math></inline-formula> phase difference between the x- and y-directions within wide oblique angles for both TE and TM polarizations, is proposed. Second, a wideband, high-isolation, and low RCS <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2\times 2$ </tex-math></inline-formula> MIMO antenna based on the metasurface is proposed. On the one hand, two intrinsic modes are excited by integrating the metasurface with a conventional slot antenna. A wideband of <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\vert $ </tex-math></inline-formula>S<inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$_{11}\vert \lt -10$ </tex-math></inline-formula> dB is obtained from 3.90 to 5.35 GHz. Over 25 dB isolation is achieved within the working band. On the other hand, over 6 dB RCS reduction is achieved from 4.69 to 19.58 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 122.7%. For oblique incident wave within 45°, it has an over 100% relative bandwidth of 6 dB RCS reduction for both TE and TM polarizations. Finally, the MIMO antenna implanted on a cube platform is studied for cube satellite applications. The measurements and the simulations are in good agreement. The wideband and wide-angle metasurface based on compensate-mediums theory is first proposed for MIMO antennas, achieving wideband, high isolation, and wideband, wide-angle low RCS, which can be a candidate for stealth cube satellite application.